Saturday, September 24, 2011

Susan Cox: Second Person of Interest

Note the difference between "a" person of interest and "the" person of interest. It is not difficult to imagine that police now consider Steve Powell part of this investigation. "At any point" may be addressing Steve Powell's assistance, even after the fact.

Police: More persons of interest possible in Susan Powell case

KOMO STAFF

Published 10:20 p.m., Friday, September 23, 2011

FILE - This undated picture made available by Hardman Photography shows Susan Powell. Powell, a 28-year-old mother of two young children, was reported missing Dec. 7, 2009. Authorities are still continuing their search in the Utah desert for clues in the 2009 disappearance. Photo: Hardman Photography, Amber Hardman / AP

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- As investigators wrapped up a search of the Utah desert for missing mom Susan Powell on Friday, officials revealed for the first time that her husband Josh Powell may not the only person of interest in the case.

Sgt. Mike Powell of the West Valley City, Utah, police told KOMO Newsradio in an interview Friday that Josh Powell is the only person of interest who has been publicly named, but there may be others.

There are currently no other known persons of interest in the case, Powell said, but investigators have not ruled out the possibility as the investigation is still ongoing. (Listen to the interview)

"The West Valley City Police Department has never indicated that Josh Powell is the only person of interest. We have always said he is a person of interest," Powell said. "Really, anybody that may have any involvement at any point in this investigation will be considered a person of interest."

The development came as investigators wrapped up a 12-day search of the Utah desert near Topaz Mountain on Friday, collecting numerous items that could possibly be connected to the disappearance of Susan Powell two years ago.

Up to 100 officers have been combing the rugged terrain on horseback and in ATVs, looking for evidence. A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was also being used.

Topaz Mountain is a popular rock-hounding spot about 135 miles southwest of West Valley City, where Susan Powell was last seen by her family on Dec. 7, 2009. She was reported missing after she failed to show up for her job as a stockbroker.

Sgt. Powell, who is no relation to Susan Powell, said that police "accomplished what they set out to do" during the desert probe.

He said searchers found several items that didn't belong in the desert, including clothing.

Also found was some kind of burned material in an excavation site that officials initially thought was a shallow grave.

Powell described the material as "charred items located inside the excavation site that the specialized (cadaver) dogs had been indicating." He said investigators "do not know what those charred items are."

He also said police may release more information about the items recovered during the search on Monday.

Josh Powell told police he last saw Susan at about midnight on Dec. 7, 2009, just before he and the couple's young sons -- then 4 and 2 -- headed out for a winter camping trip on the historic Pony Express Trail, an area about 30 miles north of where police conducted their desert search